If Nightdive Studios have been a house, it will be constructed upon the inspiration of System Shock. As one of the studio’s formative tasks, the Kickstarter marketing campaign for its acclaimed System Shock remake put Nightdive on the map. Nevertheless it wasn’t System Shock that impressed Nightdive’s creation, quite its sequel, System Shock 2.

With the lately introduced June 26, 2024, launch date for System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster quick approaching, some have questioned: why a remaster as a substitute of a full remake?

To reply this, let’s look again at Nightdive’s origins, remasters as a type of preservation, and the numerous enhancements that make System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster a worthy tribute to a beloved traditional!

The place It All Started

“Like many others, my first expertise with System Shock was the sequel,” begins Nightdive Founder and CEO Stephen Kick, who recounts being launched to the sport whereas consuming lunch together with his buddies in school.

After sharing how a lot he liked Half-Life, his pal Marshall advised giving System Shock 2 a attempt. “The subsequent day, he got here again to the desk and handed me the Huge Field. That evening, I put in the sport and was immediately captivated. Each side of it congealed into an unforgettably immersive expertise that also offers me chills each time I give it some thought.”

Little did he know on the time, this pivotal second would later contribute to Nightdive’s founding in 2012 when Kick had the nostalgic want to replay System Shock 2. Unable to get his sport to run, and unable to re-purchase it on digital platforms, Kick started reaching out to license holders and was in the end rewarded with the rights to re-release System Shock 2 in 2013, adopted by the unique.

“After System Shock: Enhanced Version launched mouse look and different high quality of life enhancements, we knew we had the distinctive alternative to re-introduce the gaming world at massive to at least one of probably the most influential and missed experiences ever created. The choice was then made to assemble a workforce to remake System Shock to not solely honor the unique, however to have fun the legacy it created,” Kick explains.

“Whereas we’d already introduced an enhanced version of System Shock 2, the success of the remake brought on us to pivot and re-evaluate our objectives for System Shock 2: Enhanced Version, in the end resulting in a remaster that’s a lot grander in scope and ambition.”

So, why didn’t this pivot with System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster (previously System Shock 2: Enhanced Version) result in one other remake?

Remaster vs. Remake

“With System Shock 2, the sport was already in a playable state, it simply wanted the identical care and a spotlight we’ve dropped at different video games we’ve labored on from that technology,” Kick clarifies. “Improved graphics, efficiency, and the power to play on console — so it was determined to remaster the sport as a substitute of utterly remaking it.”

Nightdive’s mission extends past ‘bringing misplaced and forgotten video games again from the depths’ with its dedication to sport preservation. As Nightdive developer Alex Lima factors out, remasters and remakes are “two very totally different approaches” to sport preservation.

“In a remake, we now have the freedom of utilizing fashionable engines, and we have to search a selected kind of expertise when assembling a growth workforce. In a remaster, we’re adapting legacy supply code and doing heaps of reverse engineering when that supply code is misplaced.”

In case you assume of video games as artwork, like Nightdive VP of Enterprise Growth Larry Kuperman does, a remaster is nearer to restoration work completed with previous work whereas remakes are akin to creating a reproduction. “Video games are a type of interactive artwork and must be preserved as artwork deserves to be preserved,” says Kuperman.

Having the ability to leverage as a lot of a sport’s unique content material as doable shouldn’t be solely beneficial from a preservation standpoint, however from a modding one too.

“In a remaster, we adhere to the modding requirements the unique builders or neighborhood have already established. In a remake, we’re capable of create the modding ecosystems with fashionable practices and requirements. All in all, we do each with ardour, and it’s as much as the general public to determine which one they favor,” notes Lima.

“We determined to go together with a remaster as a result of we care so much concerning the System Shock 2 fanbase, and we all know a modding neighborhood has constructed round this sport that’d profit from the addition of superior options. A remake would even be nice, however it wouldn’t have an effect on the modding neighborhood in as optimistic a manner as this remaster will.”

Bringing a Horror Basic to Xbox

Modders aren’t the one ones who’ll profit from the enhancements of System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster. With a wealth of fixes and enhancements, the sport’s shaping as much as be extra approachable than ever.

For instance, as you discover the creepy corridors of the Von Braun, one of the primary belongings you’ll discover is the sport’s visible enhancements. “Menus and in-game UI components have been upgraded to high-resolution belongings, offering enhanced readability and readability,” confirms Lima.

“The Xbox household of programs has the type of {hardware} that PC gamers within the ‘90s might solely dream of, and we make use of that additional muscle,” provides developer Lexi Mayfield. “The sport runs natively at 4K decision on the Xbox One X and Xbox Sequence X|S with 120Hz additionally supported on the Xbox Sequence X|S model.”

It’s not simply seems — System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster performs higher, too.

“The 3D renderer utilized by System Shock 2’s “Darkish” Engine has been modernized. You’ll be able to anticipate to see high-resolution belongings, fashionable supplies and shaders, help for ambient occlusion, and lots of of the efficiency bottlenecks of the older renderer addressed,” explains Mayfield.

As anticipated for a sport releasing on consoles, System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster gives complete controller help.

“Each interface within the sport, from PDA screens to hacking instruments, can now be shortly navigated with the directional pad and face buttons. Biking between PDA interfaces is finished with the triggers, and tabular interfaces in these screens are cycled with the bumpers.”

You are able to do extra with the bumpers than cycle between screens, due to the sport’s newly added quickbar system. Now, switching between weapons and psi powers is each quicker and simpler thanks to 2 quick-access bars certain by default to the Left and Proper bumpers.

“It’s also possible to decelerate your goal for the sake of accuracy, and as a substitute of a number of lean buttons there’s now a single lean toggle that makes use of the management stick for the lean route.”

If the default setup doesn’t be just right for you, “practically each management besides wanting and strolling with the analog sticks may be remapped. You’ll be able to even swap the sticks to a southpaw configuration for those who favor.”

And for those who’d quite keep on with mouse and keyboard, Mayfield assures “we now have you lined there too.” Whereas the workforce can’t delve too deep into both of these simply but, multiplayer and co-op are in growth for System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster. “Crossplay performance can be supported, permitting gamers throughout totally different platforms to attach and play collectively,” notes Lima.

A Look to the Future

Nightdive’s remaster of System Shock 2 isn’t a highly-polished reimagining; it’s the identical sport you keep in mind from 1999… however higher. With visible enhancements, optimized efficiency, and full controller help, Xbox gamers are in for an actual deal with.

Maybe multiple. With a number of tasks in lively growth, together with some extremely requested fan favorites, the Nightdive workforce reveals no indicators of slowing down. Whereas a full remake of System Shock 2 isn’t on the record (but), it’s actually not exterior the realm of chance.

In line with Stephen Kick:

“Our workforce has been working throughout the world of System Shock for the final 10 years and I couldn’t assume of a extra certified group of builders to deal with a mission like that ought to we determine to take that on.”

So, whether or not you’re a first-timer or a longtime fan, Nightdive seems ahead to welcoming you aboard the Von Braun when System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster launches on June 26, 2024, for Xbox One and Xbox Sequence X|S!

System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster

Nightdive Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

How are you going to problem an ideal, immortal machine?

System Shock® 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster by Nightdive Studios brings to you the modernized remaster of the FPS/RPG traditional.

It’s the 12 months 2114 and as you awake from cryo sleep on the FTL ship Von Braun, you might be unable to recollect who or the place you might be… and one thing has gone terribly unsuitable. Hybrid mutants and lethal robots roam the halls whereas the cries from the remaining crew reverberate by way of the chilly hull of the ship. SHODAN, a rogue AI bent on the destruction of mankind has taken over and it is as much as you to cease her.

Delve by way of the corridors of the derelict ship Von Braun and immerse your self within the story wealthy environment and environments. Discover deck by deck and unravel the horrifying destiny of the Von Braun and her crew.